Booker’s Career Night Leads LBSU Past UC Davis

Saturday, January 12

Long Beach, Calif.

4:00 P.M.

Long Beach State University

7-10, 1-0BWC

UC Davis

4-12, 0-2BWC

UC Davis

Long Beach State

Photo by: John Fajardo

1/12/2019 7:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery Box Score - UC Davis

Senior Deishuan Booker scored a career-high 32 points as the Beach opened Big West Conference play with a win.

By: Roger Kirk, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletic Communications

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Senior Deishuan Booker scored a career-high 32 points and went 19-of-20 from the free throw line, setting a new school record for free throws made in a game as the Beach roared back for an 82-77 win over UC Davis to start Big West conference play.

                Booker scored over 30 points for the second time this season, but did most of the work from the line, shooting a perfect 17-for-17 in the second half as Long Beach State (7-10, 1-0 Big West) sealed the win following a comeback.

                The early minutes of the game were defensively scrappy, as the Beach took a 5-0 lead over UC Davis (4-12, 0-2 Big West). The Aggies answered with a 16-2 run of their own though, and would lead the Beach at halftime by eight points, 35-27.

                Coming out of the locker room, it was Long Beach State that took charge, setting an aggressive tone right away with a Mason Riggins and-one. Bryan Alberts canned a three on the next possession, and the Beach opened the second half on a 12-0 run that erased the deficit and put the Beach on top 39-35.

https://twitter.com/LBSUhoops/status/1084258525897879552 https://twitter.com/LBSUhoops/status/1084258525897879552

Long Beach State has opened the half on a 9-0 run to take the lead!! Beach forces a UC Davis timeout up 36-35 with 17:30 to play pic.twitter.com/wuT2qguzNQ
— LBSU Mens Basketball (@LBSUhoops) January 13, 2019

The lead would grow to 10 points at 55-45 on a 3-pointer from Edon Maxhuni, but the Aggies would make one more push, cutting the lead back to one on two occasions before finally taking the elad at 59-58 on a layup from TJ Shorts II. Booker answered back with a drive of his own to retake the lead, and following a steal, the senior was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three ensuring free throws to push the lead to four with just under five minutes to play.

Joe Mooney, who finished with seven 3-pointers and 29 points helped keep the game close, but Long Beach State would close out the game by making 12 straight free throws in the final two minutes to seal the win over the defending champions.

FINAL: @LBSUhoops roar back for 55pts in the 2nd half and take down the defending #BigWestChamps ?? #UCDavis, 82-77.

?? Deishaun Booker ?? career-high 32pts (6-11 FG, 19-20 FT).

Edon Maxhuni 15pts (3-4 3FG).
Mason Riggins 12rb.#BlackandBlue Wednesday in Irvine, 7PT on ESPN3. pic.twitter.com/PfHhhcVSIv
— #BigWestMBB (@BigWestMBB) January 13, 2019

Booker's 19 free throws made was a new school record, and the senior also made five steals and two assists along with his 32 points. Maxhuni had 15 off of the bench, while Jordan Roberts and KJ Byers also finished in double figures. Riggins led the way on the glass with 12 rebounds to go with two assists and a pair of blocks.

Long Beach State continues Big West play with a pair of rivalry games next week. Action starts on Wednesday with the Black and Blue Rivalry at UC Irvine before the Beach returns home to host Cal State Fullerton at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 19.